A service that’s helped 22,000 smokers in the North East to quit is using a team of comedians to encourage even more people to break the habit.

This year, anti-smoking charity Fresh and North East councils are running the 28-day Stoptober challenge which comedian and TV presenter Paddy McGuinness is backing.

He is encouraging smokers to take advantage of free national and local support by stopping smoking on October 1.

Ailsa Rutter, Director of Fresh, said: “Stoptober has been a massive success in the North East and this year could be even bigger which is why we’re encouraging everyone to support their friends and family, colleagues and staff to let them know that they can do it.

“Quitting can feel hard but with the right support it can be easier.

“You will feel better in yourself, lower your chances of a serious smoking related disease like lung cancer, and have much more money in your pocket to treat you and your family.”

Evidence shows someone quitting who goes 28 days without a cigarette is five times more likely to stop permanently.

Director of public health for Gateshead Council, Carole Wood said: “Over 5,000 Gateshead residents contacted stop smoking services last year to get help to quit – and more will have tried it alone that we don’t know about.

“Evidence shows that smokers are four times more likely to quit successfully if they access stop smoking medicine and service support.

“There is plenty of support out there and we urge all smokers to never give up trying to quit.”

Coun Catherine Donovan, the new chair of Gateshead Smokefree Alliance and Gateshead Council’s cabinet member for Health and Wellbeing said there are 33,500 smokers in Gateshead and half of those people will die early due to smoking related illness.

She said: “That is why all of our local stop smoking services are supporting Stoptober, we believe that local support for local people is the best way to help people to stop smoking.”

Prof Eugene Milne, director of public health at Newcastle City Council, said the authority was also giving its backing to the Stoptober campaign for the third year running.

Stoptober provides smokers with a range of free tools including a new stop smoking pack through the post, a 28-day mobile phone app, text support with daily updates, quitting advice and tips for coping, as well as the encouragement and support from thousands of people quitting together through Stoptober social media channels.